Glossina pallidipes Virus: Its Potential for Use in Biological Control of Tsetse

Abstract

Laboratory-reared tsetse, Glossina pallidipes were inoculated with the tsetse virus by microinjection into the haemocoel, and feeding through micropipettes. The inoculated tsetse were reared on rabbits for 45 days, and feeding, flight and mating activities recorded. The tsetse were dissected and the conditions of the salivary glands and gonads noted. In males, tsetse were examined under a compound microscope and the presence of spermatozoa noted. F1 pupae were allowed to emerge, dissected, and the salivary glands examined for hypertrophy, and the gonads for sterility.

There was no reduction in the activity of inoculated tsetse. Infection level was 23.5% in the treated adults. All infected ♂♂ were sterile while ♀♀ were fertile. There was no significant difference in the maternal age at larviposition, F1 pupal weight, or incubation period of F1 pupae, between treated and untreated tsetse.

A high proportion of F1 adults (65%) were infected, with category four hypertrophied salivary glands. All males with enlarged glands were sterile. The evidence obtained shows that the tsetse virus may be used in biological control of G. pallidipes.